724.3415/3975½
The British Chargé (Osborne) to the Assistant Secretary of State (Welles)
My Dear Welles: As I told you this morning, the Italian Government have now informed the Committee of the Council of the League of their decision to prevent the export of war material destined for Bolivia and Paraguay. Since I spoke to you I have received a cable from London confirming that there is no longer any need to follow up the suggestion, which was contained in my aide-mémoire of 21st July,1 that the United States Ambassador at Rome should support the representations made by Sir E. Drummond with a view to obtaining an early reply from the Italian Government.
I have been instructed by Sir John Simon to convey to the United States Government the text of a communication addressed by him to the Secretary General of the League of Nations, which reads as follows:—
“His Majesty’s Ambassador at Rome informs me that Italian Government have informed President of Committee that they will enact necessary measures to prevent export from Italian territory of war material destined for Bolivia and Paraguay and that such measures will contain no exception in favour of current contracts.
“His Majesty’s Government have learned with great satisfaction of this decision and are now prepared to reply to letter of June 14th from President of Committee informing him that they formally accept embargo proposal and will immediately enforce complete suspension of all exports of arms and war material including any consignment for which licences had been issued before May 9th, date on which issue of new licences was suspended.
“Before taking this action His Majesty’s Government would urge that a telegram should be despatched to all governments which received M. Najera’s circular letter of June 14th informing them of foregoing facts and enquiring whether they are now willing to put embargo into force without reservations without delay and if possible before end of this month.”
I have at the same time been directed to express the earnest hope that the United States Government will at an early date take steps, similar to those contemplated by His Majesty’s Government, for the complete enforcement of the embargo.
With reference to your question regarding current contracts, you will see from the second paragraph of the communication to the League of Nations that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom are making their embargo applicable even to consignments [Page 274] for which export licences had been issued before the date on which the issue of new licences was suspended.
Yours sincerely,
- Not printed.↩